South East: UKTI's Export Week draws record numbers

A record number of delegates attended last week's Export Week events across the South East to learn how to boost their overseas sales.

Over 350 delegates attended the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) events , from Southampton University in Hampshire to Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire.

At the flagship ExploreExport event, over 1,000 one-to-one meetings were held with trade advisers from over 65 countries in just one day.

Lewis Scott, director of UKTI South East, said: “We started this year’s Export Week with a bang - and the momentum didn’t stop as the week progressed. All of our events across the region opened up businesses’ eyes to the possibilities of exporting, and a great deal of international trade should result from this.

“It was encouraging to see so many people throughout the week and to hear about many of the region’s success stories. It served as a reminder that the South East is the country’s largest exporting region.

“The Exporting for Growth event at Pinewood Studios was also a roaring success - with a full house of over 100 attendees, there to learn more about the possibilities of the international marketplace.

“I hope we have inspired more businesses, both large and small, to consider exporting and I look forward to hearing some of the success stories in the months to come from companies who attended these events. The British brand is incredibly strong throughout the world, bringing with it a reputation of credibility and reliability.

"UKTI has a wealth of support on offer to ease the process and, most importantly, an experienced team of local export advisers to help. However, the first step must come from business.”

Building on previous success, Export Week offered a mix of seminars, master classes, one-to-one meetings, workshops and networking events to inform and inspire businesses to take up the export challenge. Events took place right across the region, from Buckinghamshire to Hampshire, offering something for both the novice and experienced exporter, and everyone in between.

There were also opportunities to hear from local companies who have succeeded in breaking into new markets and to meet and network with the expert presenters on a one-to-one basis.